Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Making Wallpaper Fashionable...Again!

Cole & Son, the well known purveyor of wallpaper has joined forces with British fashion legend Vivienne Westwood for a line of new wallpapers. The line was introduced in the UK last October, but won’t be coming to America until March 2010. Westwood lends her trademark quirky style to this line that portrays her verve in a brand new medium. These papers aren’t for everyone, but they bring an alternate point of view to the existing Cole & Son range.

The designer of the latest Cole & Son range...The fabulous Vivienne Westwood.

The company will be presenting the new Westwood collection, along with new patterns in their Classix II at the upcoming Maison et Objet in Paris January 22nd through the 26th.

"Magnolia" by Vivienne Westwood for Cole & Son.

"Tromp O'leil" by Vivienne Westwood for Cole & Son.

"Dogtooth" by Vivienne Westwood for Cole & Son.

The new Westwood line is in keeping with the company’s attitude of collaborating with noteworthy contemporary designers. In the past these have included David Easton, Tom Dixon, and the archives of Piero Fornasetti. Each of these collaborations has broadened the company’s offerings and made them the wallpaper of choice among designer and client alike.

"Libris Maximus" by Cole & Son.

"Indian" by Cole & Son.

A contemporary classic "woods" by Cole & Son.

"Classix II-Canonbury" flocked wallpaper by Cole & Son.

"Checkmate" handprinted wallpaper by Cole & Son.

Anyone interested in interior design has seen a Cole & Son wallpaper, and the company’s offerings have become quite iconic. With the resurgence and renewed interest in wallpaper over the last few years the fascination with Cole and Son has only multiplied. The firm has positioned itself as the standard since 1873 when it was originally known as John Perry Ltd. Since many of their papers are hand printed with wood blocks or silk screens. It is interesting to learn where some of the wood blocks originated from. Cole and Son has steadily acquired wood printing blocks from other notable wallpaper manufacturers throughout the years as these firms have gone out of business. By 1941 the company owned the most significant collection of wooden printing blocks in Britain, and perhaps the world. Many of these patterns the company acquired throughout the years have been used in stately homes and castles throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. Cole and Son wallpaper has even been used in the White House here in America.Screenprinting the "Rajapur" pattern. Each repeat is done by hand.

Hand printing the "Catwalk" pattern.

Screen printing the "Aragon" pattern.

Cole & Son is available in San Francisco through Lee Jofa. My thanks go out to Savannah Amerson, the manager of our local showroom for connecting me with images and content from the home office in the UK.

Savannah in the Lee Jofa showroom with a wallpaper by Piero Fornasetti.

I look forward to seeing the Westwood range first hand!

David Hansen

* Please Note: We did not receive compensation for this post. We really love the wallpaper!

Design Squared is an online treatise created by the two principals of Ashfield Hansen Design Inc. We strive to discuss what inspires us to be creative by exploring the decoration of interiors, architecture, travel, culinary pursuits, lifestyle and the art of entertaining.